Material handling device for open crating

ABSTRACT

A material handling device suitable for use with open crating which includes switching means for automatically positioning the lower carrying members to a lifting position or a nonlifting position.

United States Patent [72] inventors l-larryS. Howard [50] Field of [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 12/1925 'Westbo 1,564,655 1,765,023 6/1930 McWane..............

[ 1 [22] Filed Mar. 3, 1969 [45] Patented Mar. 30, 1971 Primary Examiner-Harvey C. Homsby Assistant ExaminerMerle F. Maffei Attorney-R. E. Zimmerman ABSTRACT: A material handling device suitable for use with [54] MATERIAL HANDLING DEVICE FOR OPEN CRATING 1 Claim, 2 Drawing Figs.

294/67 open crating which includes switching means for automati- [51] int. B66c1/22, cally positioning the lower carrying members to a lifting posi- B66c 1/28 tion or a nonlifting position.

PATENTEU msolsn 3,572, 01

m In" INVENTORS.

HA RR) 5. HOWARD AUD/EE. CANTRELL wqw ATTORNEY PATENT-ED MAR30 [971' 3L 5 72'. 8 01 sumaurz INVENTORS. HARRY S. HOWARD AUD/E E. CANTRELL AITORNEY MATERIAL HANDLING DEVICE FOR OPEN CRATING DISCUSSION or PRIOR ART The U.S. Pat. issued to T. L. Lester, No. 2,847,245 issued Aug. 12, 1958 disclosed a box-handling devicewith automatic means to engage or disengage hooks onto the box structure for moving the boxes from one location to another. The hooks are engaged or disengaged by crane cables. The US. Pat. to Bellingher et al. No. 3,039,810 issued Jun. 19, 1962, the U.S. Pat. to G. Tazioli, No. 3,008,753 issued Nov. 14, l96l, and the US. Pat. to Golden, No. 2,867,470 issued Jan. 6, I959, are incorporated by reference to show automatic attaching means in lifting devices.

Sucker rods which are used widely in pumping units installed in oil field installations today are shipped in wooden crating, the rods are separated in layers assembled in grooved wood sections. The wooden sections with the rods are bound in bundles for transporting. To move the crated rods throughout the plant and into vehicles in the past required the use of cables individually placed around each end of the crated rods. The cables were then looped into hooks attached to an overhead crane for movement from one location to another. Another method of movement of the crated rods is to fasten a stringer bar to each end of the crated rods, the stringer bar being then lifted by an overhead crane.

These methods of movement are time and labor consuming,

' with an overhead crane.

The object of this invention is to provide apparatus suitable for use in conjunction with an overhead crane which will lift material loaded in open crating.

Another object of this invention is to provide apparatus which will automatically engage and disengage the crated loads by the movement of the overhead crane.

FIG. 1 is a side elevation of the complete lifting device attached to an overhead crane in a carrying position.

FIG. 2 illustrates a fragmented side elevation showing the system of levers which control the movement of the supporting T-bars.

Reference is made to FIG. 1 which shows the complete lifting device. Structurally, the device comprises a steel frame, the main support member consisting of two welded steel beams arranged in parallel with spacing between each of the steel beams. Box bracing at positions 3 and 4 are welded to the upper surface of the beams. Both of the box-bracing members provide means 5 and 6 for attaching to hooks from an overhead crane (not shown). To provide additional safety, steel rod 7 extends from each end of beams 1 and 2 over the box bracing. The rod 7 is further supported approximately in the middle of the supporting beams I and 2 by another box bracing 8. On each end positioned vertically at the extremity of the supporting beams l and 2 are mounted sleeves 9 and 10 to provide support and rotating means for T-bar members 11 and 12 respectively. Supporting plate means 13 and 14 are attached to the lower sides of the supporting beams l and 2 equidistant from the ends of the support beams l and 2 but outside the points of support of the overhead crane. Between support means 13 and 14 is assembled the mechanism 15 and I6 and the levers l7 and 18 which change the direction of T- bar members 11 and 12 to the direction desired.

The position of the levers I7, 17' and 18 with connector 25 in FIG. I and the position of actuating plates 15 and 16 show the T-bars in a lifting position. Changing the alignment of the T-bars in relationship to supporting beams 1 and 2 can be accomplished by nudging actuating plate 15 to a closed position. The movement of plate 15 to a closed position moves the levers 17, I7 and 25 to the left. The movement of the levers will change the position of actuating plate 16 to an open position similar to the present position of plate 15 as shown in FIG. I and realign the T-bars 11 and 12 to approximately a parallel alignment with supporting beams 1 and 2.

. I2. T-bars II and 12 are mounted and secured in a vertical direction into sleeves 9 and 10 respectively. Bushings are pressed in sleeves 9 and 10 so that T-bars Ill and 12 can rotate easily. Attached to the upper shank of T-bars Ill and I2 below the sleeves l0 and 9 in a horizontal position are rods 19 and 20. Extending between rods 19 and 20 is rod 18, Lever I8 is connected to levers 17 through linkage 25, 26 and 27 and I7 and to rods 19 and 20 by means of linkage 21 and 22 bolted to appendages 23 and 24. Approximately equidistant from the appendages 23 and 24 welded at a 90 angle is threaded rod 25 with a nut on the extremity of rod 25. Mounted on rod 25 are two rotatably mounted blocks 26 and 27 to which levers l7 and 17 are attached. Levers l7 and I7 are attached to rotating blocks 28 and 29 mounted on the upper edge of plates I5 and 16. Plates l5 and 16 are mounted on spindles 30 and 31 in the lower extremities of supporting plate means 13 and I4. Plates l5 and 16 are the actuating means to put the system of levers 17, 17' and 18 into motion to position T-bars 11 and I2 through a 90 are parallel with the ground surface.

OPERATION To operate the material-handling device, it is necessary to attach the device on overhead crane hooks at 5 and 6, FIG. I, as shown in FIG. 1. FIG. I shows the actuating plate 16 in a closed position and actuating plate 15 in an open position. When the actuating plates are in the position shown, the T- bars 11 and 12 are in a lifting position. To change the position of lifting bars 11 and 12 through a 90 arc, it is necessary for the operator of the overhead crane to nudge plate 15 FIG. I to a closed position. The T-bars II and 12 are now in parallel alignment with the supporting frame structure I and 2.

When the T-bars are in this position, the operator of the overhead crane lowers the lifting device so that T-bars ll and 12, FIG. 1 and supports 13 and 14, FIG. 1, pass through the spacing area of the crated sucker rods. When supports 13 and M are resting on the ground surface, the crane operator raises the lifting device slightly. then moves the lifting device to the left to nudge plate I6 which touches the top of the open wooden crating. Plate 16 then moves to a closed position as shown in FIG. I. The T-bars are now in a lifting position. The crated sucker rods which are not shown in FIG. 1 rest on the supporting T bars 11 and 12, FIG. I ready to be transferred to another location. When the load is transferred the lifting device is removed by realigning the T-bars in parallel alignment with the supporting frame structure in a manner as previously described.

It will, of course, be understood that various details of construction may be varied through a wide range without departing from the principles of this invention, and it is, therefore, not the purpose to limit the patent granted herein otherwise than necessitated by the disclosure.

We claim:

I. In combination, an overhead crane and a material-lifting device comprising a frame with an upper and lower face with means on the said upper face of the said frame for attaching or least one hook suspended from the said overhead crane, the said frame having a pair of sleeves each of the said sleeves being vertically mounted on opposite ends of the said frame; a

first and second structural member where the said first and second structural members are attached in vertical position to the said lower face of the said frame and spaced inwardlyof said sleeves the said first and second structural members each having a transverse spindle inthe lower extremity of the said first and second structural member, a first and second plate, the said first plate being rotatably mounted on the said first structural member spindle for movement about its vertical axis, the said second plate being rotatably mounted on the second structural member spindle for movement about its vertical axis, a first and second lever, the first said lever being attached by rotating means to the upper section of the said first plate, the second lever being attached by rotating means to the upper section of the said first plate, the second lever being attached by rotating means to the upper section of the said second plate, both the first and second lever being joined T-bars, the said T-bars being rotatably vertically mounted in the said sleeves on the opposite ends of the said frame, the movement of said first and second plates acting as actuating means to change the position of said pair of T-bars simultanetogether by a flexible union to a third lever, the said third lever 5 ously through at least 3 being rotatably connected to and extending between a pair of 

1. In combination, an overhead crane and a material-lifting device comprising a frame with an upper and lower face with means on the said upper face of the said frame for attaching or least one hook suspended from the said overhead crane, the said frame having a pair of sleeves each of the said sleeves being vertically mounted on opposite ends of the said frame; a first and second structural member where the said first and second structural members are attached in vertical position to the said lower face of the said frame and spaced inwardly of said sleeves the said first and second structural members each having a transverse spindle in the lower extremity of the said first and second structural member, a first and second plate, the said first plate being rotatably mounted on the said first structural member spindle for movement about its vertical axis, the said second plate being rotatably mounted on the second structural member spindle for movement about its vertical axis, a first and second lever, the first said lever being attached by rotating means to the upper section of the said first plate, the second lever being attached by rotating means to the upper section of the said first plate, the second lever being attached by rotating means to the upper section of the said second plate, both the first and second lever being joined together by a flexible union to a third lever, the said third lever being rotatably connected to and extending between a pair of T-bars, the said T-bars being rotatably vertically mounted in the said sleeves on the opposite ends of the said frame, the movement of said first and second plates acting as actuating means to change the position of said pair of T-bars simultaneously through at least a 90* arc. 